Phonograph



C. B; REP-P PHONOGRAPHY.

APPLICATSON FILED FEB. 15, 19:7. RENEWED APR.8,19I9.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919 ,2 ATTORNEY.

CLINTON B. REPP, 0F PLAINFIELD, 1\TEW JERSEY.

PHONOGRAPH.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Application filed February 15, 1917, Serial No. 148,699. Renewed April 8, 1319. Serial No. 288,658.

. thereof.

My invention relates to phonographs and more particularly to improvements in the type of phonograph patented to me in and by United States Letters Patent No. 1,156,- 931, dated October 19, 1915. r

In phonographs made in accordance with said Letters Patent, the transmitter or vibrator arm has one end connected to the diaphragm by a flexible connection, normally tensioned in a mannerto apply tensioning stress to the diaphragm; and the other end thereof, connected to a pivotal supporting arm through the medium of a weighted block of sufficient bulk to insure the desired engagement between the stylus and a record and at the same tn-ne, to absorb such vibrations as might be transmitted from the vibrator arm' to its supporting arm, or vice versa, with a resultant development of false vibrations in the diaphragm resulting in blasts, loss of timbre'in the re production, or loss in the volume of-the reproduction because of a division of the vibrations developed by the record. While the structure shown in said Letters Patent has been extensively used, and has been found to give highly satisfactory results, nevertheless experience has demonstrated that there isa tendency, after prolonged use, toward the development of vibrations in the. transmitter arm due to.lost motion in the connecting means between .the weighted block and the transmitter arm, and between said block and the supporting arm.

The object of my present invention is to provide a phonograph possessing the advantageous charaeteristics'of the phonograph of my aforesaid Letters Patent, but wherein ,the transmitter arm will be so connected with the supporting arm as to avoid all likelihood of the development of such lost mo tion between these parts, through wear or slight inaccuracy in the dimension of parts, as will result in the development of vibrations in said transmitter arm due to a relative movement of the transmitter arm and the supporting arm while the stylus is traversing a record. I secure these results by having the weight for the supporting arm positioned between the point of pivotal. support of said supporting arm and the end 1 of said arm to which the transmitter armis attached, and by connecting said trans mitter arm directly to said supporting arm while subjecting itto the action of a spring, normally held under tension by said connecting means, and automatically taking up any lost motion which may be present by reason of the necessary looseness of fit of the cooperating parts, or by such looseness resulting from wear. The connecting means between the transmitter arm audits supporting arm are so insulated as to minimize likelihood PatentedDec.2,1919.

of the'development of\vibrations through v theimpact .of differentparts of such con nections with each other and the transmission of vibrations from one of these arms to'the other through said means.

' a 'My invention consists primarily i it F Q interposed between said bar and said trans mitt-or arm, 'and means pivotally connecting said transmitter arm and said bar and placing said spring under tension, and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described and more particularly pointed out in theclaims hereto appended. Referring to the drawings Figure 1.1s a side elevatiori of a portion of a phonograph embodyingmv invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the transmitter arm and its supporting arm removed from the machine; and r Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing the connecting means between the transmitter arm and the supporting arm in section.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several. views.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated theinvention as applied to a phonographhaving an ordinary box cabinet and adapted. for use with exposed horn;

although the form of cabinet and the amplitying mechanism used, is in'imaterial to the invention.

In the d awings, a indicates an ordinary box cabinet having. revolubly mounted thereon a record supporting disk 5 driven by any desired form of motive power. Carried bythe top slab of the said cabinet (1, is a sound box supporting frame 0 consisting of two diametrically. oppositely disposed pillars or standards 0 0 upon which the sound box cl is rigidly mounted by means of said bearings, is a stud f having pivotally mounted thereon one end of a supporting arm, the axis of said pivot supporting; sa d arm being perpendicular to the axis of said stud. 1

The vibrations developed by the indicated soundwaves upon a record, are transmitted to the diaphragm through a wooden transmitter or vibrator arm g, one end of which is provided with a stud 9 connected, by means of the flexible strand 9 with the diaphragm. Connected with the stud g is a flexible strand h passing through an opening a in .the cabinet and having connected therewith suitable stress developing means, such as the weight k. In this manner the flexible connection g? is normally held under tension. and tensioning stresses are applied to the diaphragm thercthrough in a direction opposite to the direction ofmovement of the sound vibrations in passing from the transmitter arm to the diaphragm.

One of the standards or pillars as e is provided with a hook c over which the strand it may be passed to vary the direction of the application of stresses to the diaphragin, so that the phonograph may be' used either for reproducing from lateral or from vertical cut records. The free end of the transmitter or vibrator arm 9, is provided with a suitable mount for the reproducing stylus or point'z', the character of which stylus or point may vary according to the type of record with which the machine is to be used.

Intermediate the stylus mount and the stud 9 the transmitter or vibrator arm g is connee-ted to the supportin arm heretofore referred to by a universa connection so as to permit. said arms to have simultaneous movement under the control of the record while the exception that heretofore in machines ofthis type, ithas been the practice to use three pillars or standards instead of two as in the present machine. It is desired to note, however, that in actual practice, it has been found that the quality of the repro duction is enhanced by using only two pillars instead of three, and by having'the sole support for the diaphragm consist of two diametrically opposite pillars or standards as described.

My present invention in addition to the arrangement of the sound box support above referred to, consists in the construction of the supporting arm and the manner of connecting said arm with the transmitter arm.

The supporting arm heretofore'referred to consists of two parallel bars j-y" having firml secured between same adjacent one end t ereof, a weighted block is. The bearing pin f carried by the stud f is journa'led in bearings adjacent one end of the bars jj'. Pivotally mounted in the other end of the bars j-j is a cross bar m, an elastic bushing m being disposed between each trunnion m and its bearin in said arms. In this manner the transmission of vibrations from, or to, the bars j-j through the medium of bar m is prevented.

The transmitter or vibrator g is connected to its supporting arm by means of a bi-part pivot, one section it of which is carried by said arm 7 and the other section n of which is carried by the bar m. The axis of the pivot nn is perpendicular to that of the bar m so that a universal connection is afi'orded between the arm g and its supporting arm.

To minimize likelihood of a transmission of vibrations through the pivot n-n, to or from, the bar m, I. provide the section n of this pivot with an elastic bushing 12?- and also interposc a suitable elastic washer between the head of said pivot and the face of said bar m. v

The two sections nn of the pivot con necting the supporting arm and transmitter or vibrator arm, have a screw threaded con- To avoid any movement of the vibrator or transmitter arm 'gzwith relation to its supporting aim, excepting those'pivotal movements resilting from the manner of connecti113; the two arms, .1 include this connecting "means, a spring interposed between the arm {g and the bar m, whlch spring is spaced 'ried thereby, passing through both arms of said spring so as to cause the connection of the .sectionsn'and 'n of the said pivot to tension the sprint), in a manner to normally "supporting arm have aiendency to separate the arm 9, and the bar mcarried by the supporting arm. By

this construction the arm, 9 acent themount 9 is adapted to' have free movement about its pivotal supports, the axes of which are'perpendicular to each other. The various sound insulating bushings and washers, reduce to a minimum likelihood of the division of vibrations developed in the arm g, or of the trans'missionof free vibrations from the supporting arm to said arm g, thus preserving not only the desired volume of reproduced sound,..but alsopreserving the timbre oftlie reproduction.

I have found inactual practice that to avoid the development of blasts in the reproduction it is essential that the pivot section a be provided with a ventopening of, to prevent the/imprisonment of air within said pivot section, although this expedient is not absolutely essential since a highly satisfactory reproduction can be securedwithout this opening, It is preferable, however, to avoid the imprisonment of air within the section a when applying the pivot section a, in the interest ofthe quality of the reproduction. v

. In machines of the general characters to which 'my invention relates, the pin 9 is rarely in axial alinement with the stud f butxis always positioned between same and the diaphragm. In consequence of this condition, movement of the arm 9 and the arm y'j of the supporting arm, are not identical, there being a constant readjustment of the relation of these arms by means of the universal pivot connection between same.

The manner of connecting the transmitter or vibrator arm 9 with its supporting arm not only permits the shiftingof the end of said arm 9 adjacent the diaphragm to adapt the machine for use with records having different cuts indicating the sound waves to be reproduced, but also permits that constant variance in the relation of the transmitter vibrator arm 9 and its supporting arm, resulting from th s of the said I- have foundin actual pracaxis of the f under the control of the record and through, the transmitter or vibrator arm.

The various bushings and washers of elastic-material, (rubber, leather or other like substance) have the sole function of preventing the development of vibrations, or the transmission of vibrations through the connecting means between the transmitter or vibrator arm and its supporting arm.

During mOVGIUGDlI of thc'arm 9 about the pivot. 'nn the sections nn will both turn, the pivot sections it always. remaining fixed and rigid. with relation to the arm 9 however, and the pivot section n turning with relation to the bar m. The

spring 9 will at all timestake up any looseness developed during the operation of said pivot sections n n, and adjust itself to both said arm g and said bar m. The shoulders upon the baim are provided to prevent rotation movement of said spring q.

i It is not my intention to.limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent 1s: a

1. A phonograph embodying therein a stationary sound box having a diaphragm thereln, a transmitter or vibrator arm, means whereby vibrations passing through said arm are transmitted to said diaphragm, tensioning means for said diaphragm, a pivotal weighted supporting arm, and connections between said supporting arm and said transmitter or vibrator arm embodying therein a bar pivotally mounted adjacent the free end of said supporting arm, a spring interposed between said bar and said transmitter or vibrator arm, and means pivotally connecting said transmitter or vibrator arm and said bar and placing said spring under tenslon.

2. A phonograph embodying therein a stationary sound box having a diaphragm therein, a transmitter or vibrator arm, means whereby vibrations passing through said arm are transmitted to said diaphragm, tensioning means for said diaphragm, a pivotal, weighted supporting arm and conned tions between, said supporting arm and said transmitter or vibrator arm embodying flat'spring and a pivot composed of two parts connected by means of screw threads, one part of which is carried by said transmitter or vibrator arm and the other part of which is carried by said bar and passes through both arms of said s )ring whereby said spring will be tensioned in connecting gaid transmitter. or vibrator arm with said 3. A phonograph embodying therein a stationary sound box having a diaphragm therein, a transmitter or vibrator arm, means whereby vibrations passing through said arm are transmitted to said diaphragm, tensioning means for said diaphragm, a piv otal, weighted supporting arm, connections between said supporting arm and said transmitter or vibrator arm embodying therein a bar pivotally mounted adjacent the free end of said supporting arm, a spring interposed between said bar and sail transmitter orvibrator arm and means p'ivotally connecting said transmitter or vibrator-arm and said bar and placing said spring under tension and sound insulating means between said bar and saidsupporting arm, between said means pivotally connectln said transmitter or vibrator arm and said bar and said arm and said bar respectively, and between said last named means and said spring.

4.. A phonograph embodying therein a stationary sound box aving a diaphragm therein, a transmitter or vibrator arm, means whereby vibrations passing through said arm are transmitted to said diaphragm, tensioning meansfor said diaphragm, a pivotal, weighted supporting arm and connections between said supporting arm and said transmitter or vibrator arm embodying therein 'a bar pivotally mounted adjacent the free end of said supporting arm, a looped, fiat spring and a pivot composed of two parts, one part of which is carriedv by said transmitter or vibrator arm and has a screw threaded opening therein having a. vent opening leading therefrom, and the other part of which is carried by said bar,

means whereby vibrations passing through said arm are transmitted to said diaphragm,

tensioningmeans for said diaphragm, a pivotal stud, the axis of which is in substantial aiinement with that of said diaphragm, a pivotal connection between said stud and said supporting arm, perpendicular to that of said stud and a universal. connection between theiree ends of s l supporting arm and said transmitter or the axis of which is.

vibrator arm, including therein a spring normally held under tension and adapted toeXert a constant pressure upon both of said arms in opposite directions.

in witness whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature this 18th of January, 1917, in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

CLINTO B. REPP.

Witnesses:

CLARIGE FRANGK, BERTHA lwUDLER. 

